Today’s edition of the Euro 2020 Celtic Connections focuses on the only Ukrainian player to represent the club. At the time of writing, Ukraine are level with Sweden at Hampden Park, with a quarter-final place against England in Rome up for grabs.
Sweden is a nation that is very popular with the Celtic faithful, having produced a number of wonderful players for the Hoops. Of course Henrik Larsson is Celtic’s Super Swede, but Johan Mjallby and Mikael Lustig are also two fine Celts from the Scandinavian country. On the other hand, Ukraine has only ever produced one Celtic player and he still plies his trade with the club today. He is none other than Marian Shved!
Shved joined Celtic from Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv in January 2019. Arriving on a long term contract, he was immediately loaned back to the selling club for the rest of the season and began training with the Bhoys that summer. He scored on his Celtic debut in a 2-0 away win over Nomme Kalju FC in the second qualifying round of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League, coming on as a substitute and scoring in injury time with a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area.
After a blistering start to life in the hoops, Shved completely fell out of the pictured. Reported issues on the training ground ended his involvement in the team and he has only made two further appearances for Celtic. On 19 October 2019, he got a 15 minute cameo during a 6-0 victory over Ross County, whilst his latest appearance lasted just five minutes against Clyde in the Scottish Cup on 9 February 2020.
Marian spent last season on loan at Belgian club Mechelen. He scored four goals in 22 league appearances and has now returned to Glasgow, where he awaits Ange Postecoglou’s verdict on his future.
